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Ernst: Post-election robocall disappoints

Published: Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 9:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 9:26 p.m.

Last week’s column may have been a bit premature when it concluded that the close of election season would also put an end to all the political robocalls.

The day it ran, Tom Bowers of Venice phoned to report that he had just received a recorded call from a national young Republicans organization claiming to represent 250,000 students on 1,800 college campuses.

He said a voice at the other end of the line asked for his support in helping the Young Republicans continue the fight against President Obama for the next four years.

The call illustrates the type of attitude that’s making it hard to get anything accomplished in Washington and elsewhere.

How could anyone know they want to “fight” the president for the next four years if they don’t know what might transpire during that time or what the president might propose or endors?

Obviously, there will be some give-and-take on positions during the next month to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff that could trigger another recession if not handled properly. The president and Congress, including the Republican-majority House, will have to reach an agreement or we could all be in trouble.

It’s a time for accentuating common ground, not fighting the “other” side. Fortunately, a lot of Republicans and Democrats see it that way and may eventually weed out the obstructionists on both sides.

Bowers, 65, a retired elementary school principal and lifelong Republican, didn’t say all that. He did say this: “I’ve never been so disappointed in that brief one-minute message from that young man. If they’ve got 250,000 people, why don’t they mentor young kids in schools that need help?”

And for a final note on the political robocalls, several readers suggested methods to avoid getting them. One advocated voting early or voting by absentee ballot, the reasoning being that once you’ve voted, no one will bug you at home trying to influence you or get you out to vote.

Another suggested re-registering to vote, but this time without putting a home phone number on the paperwork.

Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent says either method would work.

Absentee voting starts 45 days before the election. The elections office each day compiles a list of who has applied for a ballot. The candidates and political parties then “chase” those postings with mailers and phone calls.

More to the point, as those absentee ballots come back each day, Dent’s office reports who has voted to the state. That list is also available to the parties and the candidates. Presumably, neither would continue to court someone who has already voted.

Early voting has the same effect, but because it starts only eight days from the election, the robocalls would probably continue until then at least.

Re-registering, with no phone number listed, is an even more direct approach. It will require filling out a form again, however. The elections office will not simply remove a phone number that’s already included in the registration.

None of this is surefire, because phone numbers are available from other sources, but taking any of these steps will add another layer of privacy protection.

<p>Last week's column may have been a bit premature when it concluded that the close of election season would also put an end to all the political robocalls.</p><p>The day it ran, Tom Bowers of Venice phoned to report that he had just received a recorded call from a national young Republicans organization claiming to represent 250,000 students on 1,800 college campuses.</p><p>He said a voice at the other end of the line asked for his support in helping the Young Republicans continue the fight against President Obama for the next four years.</p><p>The call illustrates the type of attitude that's making it hard to get anything accomplished in Washington and elsewhere.</p><p>How could anyone know they want to “fight” the president for the next four years if they don't know what might transpire during that time or what the president might propose or endors?</p><p>Obviously, there will be some give-and-take on positions during the next month to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff that could trigger another recession if not handled properly. The president and Congress, including the Republican-majority House, will have to reach an agreement or we could all be in trouble.</p><p>It's a time for accentuating common ground, not fighting the “other” side. Fortunately, a lot of Republicans and Democrats see it that way and may eventually weed out the obstructionists on both sides.</p><p>Bowers, 65, a retired elementary school principal and lifelong Republican, didn't say all that. He did say this: “I've never been so disappointed in that brief one-minute message from that young man. If they've got 250,000 people, why don't they mentor young kids in schools that need help?”</p><p>And for a final note on the political robocalls, several readers suggested methods to avoid getting them. One advocated voting early or voting by absentee ballot, the reasoning being that once you've voted, no one will bug you at home trying to influence you or get you out to vote.</p><p>Another suggested re-registering to vote, but this time without putting a home phone number on the paperwork.</p><p>Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent says either method would work.</p><p>Absentee voting starts 45 days before the election. The elections office each day compiles a list of who has applied for a ballot. The candidates and political parties then “chase” those postings with mailers and phone calls.</p><p>More to the point, as those absentee ballots come back each day, Dent's office reports who has voted to the state. That list is also available to the parties and the candidates. Presumably, neither would continue to court someone who has already voted.</p><p>Early voting has the same effect, but because it starts only eight days from the election, the robocalls would probably continue until then at least.</p><p>Re-registering, with no phone number listed, is an even more direct approach. It will require filling out a form again, however. The elections office will not simply remove a phone number that's already included in the registration.</p><p>None of this is surefire, because phone numbers are available from other sources, but taking any of these steps will add another layer of privacy protection.</p>